Title: Sing a Song (8/?)
Pairing: Eventual Rachel/Quinn, some Brittany/Santana... And Puck.
Length: 1,967
Spoilers: None
Summary: AU. Guitarist!Quinn and her fellow band members lose their lead singer. Cue Shy!Rachel who can sing- Unfortunately she's cursed with an extreme case of stage fright. Quinn tries to help her out.
A/N: I really appreciate the comments you guys leave, so thank you! :)

"...O-okay."

Quinn grinned, getting up from the table. "Great. Let's go."

There was only roughly over seven people, but Rachel felt as though there were a thousand. Fourteen eyes became two-hundred. But when the hairy frat boy got off the small platform, in Rachel's eyes, Quinn was the only one around- She was the only visual distraction from her fear.

"Here," Quinn said, handing her a small binder, "Pick a song you know."

It didn't matter if Quinn didn't know the song, this was about Rachel. If she got lucky, Rachel would get into it and enjoy it. Maybe after this she would be braver and not care who watched or listened to her. Hopefully she would be brave enough to-

"...Edelweiss?" Rachel asked, pointing to a spot in the binder.

"Huh?" Quinn questioned dumbly, grabbing the pair of microphones.

"It's from The Sound of Music."

"Oh, never seen it."

On her way to retrieve a mic, Rachel nearly tripped over the chord in surprise. "Y-you've never seen The Sound of Music!"

The tone in her voice made Quinn feel like a moron, totally ignorant of a classic tune... But then again, she had made Rachel feel the same way in her mother's car earlier. "J-just pick another one," she mumbled, feeling a few more heads turning their way. Why weren't they singing yet?

As her index finger moved down, Rachel chirped, "Y-you should really see it sometime, Quinn. It's truly a classic, Julie Andrews is-" She nearly jumped, excitement brewing. "Oh!"

Quinn raised an eyebrow, amused. "Did you find something?"

"Endless Love," Rachel replied, voice dripping with assurance. "We haveto sing this."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Quinn said, "Isn't that a lovesong?"

"...I-I love this song..."

Her confidence dwindled at Quinn's lack of interest. Did Quinn notknow this song? Rachel was sure everyone memorized it's amorous and clearly passionate lyrics. And not to mention the combination of Lionel Richie's and Diana Ross' voices!

Her lower lip trembled, her Mary Jane-clad feet turning inwards.

Quinn rolled her eyes, sighing. If they kept this up any longer, they would be booed off stage.

"Okay, fine."

It was unlikely that they would find another song they both knew anyway. It was a good song, Quinn liked it enough... But what kind of girl wanted to sing a love song with anothergirl?

After selecting the song, Rachel wondered, "Can I-I be Diana?"

Quinn gaped at her. I have to be the guy!"N- Fine!" she nearly snapped, looking towards the screen.

As the title appeared on screen, Quinn had the sinking feeling that Rachel would soon panic and bolt off stage from fear. She did know the song, and Quinn was standing right next to her, so if Rachel wanted to run, Quinn could easily grab her and-

"My love, there's only you in my life," Quinn sang, feeling better in singing up the octave. "The only thing that's right."

A few of the other customers nudged each other, gawking at the two girls- They did eat together, were theydating?

As some of them whispered inaudible things, Quinn rolled her eyes and looked to the ceiling for support. Abruptly, she felt a small hand clutching hers. She knew Rachel's eyes were practically drilling holes into her head as she sang, "My first love, you're every breath that I take, you're every step I make."

She sounded even better than their last practice. No screw ups, no nervousness, or shaking. Where was this sudden confidence from?

Feeling herself shake, Quinn drew back, eyebrow raised beyond her hairline. She went on into the mic, "And I..."

Quinn knew the song, her mother loved it- Maybe as much as Rachel did, if not more. She dreaded the next lines, and they scared the hell out of her.

The way everyone was staring at them... The way Rachel was staringat her.

"I..." Rachel sighed wistfully, sounding very much like a passionate lover.

Quinn but her lip, hating herself for agreeing to this song.

"I want to share-" Rachel's shyness must have been rubbing off on her, Quinn mused. She wasn't thinking when she dropped their hands, taking two steps back.

"-All my love with you..."

Rachel did not, in any possible way, seem offended. Doe-eyed, she came closer, unblinking.

"No one else will do," Quinn sang, backing away again. She made sure to watch out for the mic chords.

Rachel never seemed to look away, tilting her head as if seeing Quinn in a brand new light. She looked utterly fascinated- Quinn could only find it eerie and highly unnerving.

"And your eyes..."

While Quinn felt fear and confusion, Rachel could only watch her with awe. Compared to hearing her sing, singingwith her was totally different. It was like forming a connection, feeling the same emotions through the same song- At least to Rachel it felt that way.

Wide-eyed, Quinn echoed, "Your eyes, your eyes..."

Neither of the girls were looking at the screen, now in a strange form of tag.

"They tell me how much you care..."

Quinn stopped backing away, instead running to shield herself with a nearby chair. She wasn't sure why the socially awkward brunette was chasing her this way, but it sent her heart pounding.

Rachel paused, then simply walked around it, long locks of hair bouncing. In Quinn's eyes, she was an on-coming missile ready to kill.

"Oh yes-"

Missing the terrified way Quinn raised her brow, Rachel sang with just about everything she had.

"-You will always be..."

She had the faint thought of, Wow- She never noticed it before because Quinn was always trying to make her join her band, but- Quinn is really pretty.

"My endless love."

Quinn dragged the chair along, not taking her eyes off Rachel for fear of being attacked.

Her voice is pretty, too. She's obviously invested in singing lessons, and I admire that. It shows she's truly dedicated to music.

"Whoa, and love..." Without really thinking about it, Rachel was singing with even more daring- Not even using her microphone.

"Oh, love," Quinn sang, knowing it was futile. Rachel would follow her wherever she would go.

"I'll be that fool, for you, I'm sure..."

The other customers had remained watching, munching away at their lunch. Some of them waved their cellphones in the air, improvising a typical concert glow stick. At least they weren't using the romantic table candles...

It was a full-blown staring contest, neither girl having blinked in the past minute. Quinn didn't know what to do, leaving the chair beside her. She told herself that she was just being paranoid by Rachel's unusual gawking.

Why is she looking at me like that? Quinn couldn't help but wonder.

Rachel sang, tiny hints of a smile forming on her face, "You know I don't mind,"

Ugh, I shouldn't have picked this song!

"Oh, you know I don't mind." Despite the lyrics she sang, Quinn minded.

"Don't mind..." Rachel appeared to be in pain, closing her eyes. Perhaps she was just overwhelmed by the song's mushy, loving emotions?

Quinn wanted to back away again. Shit, she looks insane right now.

"And yes, you'll be the only one..."

It was hard to tell just what exactly Rachel was feeling. It was a love song, yes, but that didn't exactly mean she felt that way about Quinn... Did it? She didthink they were on a date...

"Cause no one can deny, this love I have inside..."

With every held note, Rachel only seemed to come closer and closer. She was just inches away, close enough for Quinn to catch the sweet smell of her shampoo- Making her heart beat even faster than before. (Close enough to kiss.)

It wasn't justa staring contest. They were officially making bizarre, and almost pained faces.

"I'll give it all to you..."

Rachel was looking right at her, voice meaning every word- Meaning they were directed to her...

Quinn leaned away slightly, singing, "My love..." Her eyebrows must have been beyond her hairline by now.

"My love, my love," Rachel replied. Her eyes twinkled from here, lips full and shiny.

"My endless love."

They stopped, panting as the instrumental bit ended the song, eyes never breaking contact.

Their audience cheered, clapping. They enjoyed it, at least.

On the way home, Quinn did not utter a single word.

When they sang together the look in Rachel's eyes made Quinn feel... Weird. That was the way she would have described it. She felt different, like Rachel really saw into her and sensed her feelings. Feelings of fear.

She wasn't sure why she was afraid, but the feeling was familiar. It couldn't have been because of- Dare she think it- An attraction/crush toward Rachel. No. That was ridiculous. If anything, Rachel was the one with a crush on her. The brunette always looked at her funny. For God's sake, she wanted to sing a love song with her! That was pretty... Gay.

Was Rachel... Gay?

N-not that it bothered her!

Santana was gay, too, and she was totally used to it.

Even if Rachel was gay, it still didn't explain Quinn's feeling of irrational fear.

It definitely wasn't homophobia. Quinn wasn't one to judge people based on something they were born with. Unless, it was something entirely different.

Surely, it must have been the feeling of knowing someone had a crush on you, and not feeling anyattraction to them whatsoever. Yes. That sounded right.

Quinn didn't say anything until they reached Rachel's front steps.

"So..."

There was a long silence. Quinn refused to look at her. She had only said one word so far, and deep down she knew that she was just depending on Rachel to speak first.

"...T-that was fun," Rachel said cheerfully. She was smiling as if nothing had happened.

"Yeah," Quinn agreed, nodding.

"S-so, I'll... see you at school?"

The minuscule tinge of worry in her voice made Quinn look up. Rachel was staring at her feet, blushing shyly.

She suddenly felt horrible. Her apparent discovery of Rachel's feelings for her shouldn't have changed anything. They were supposed to be friends. She was supposed to join the band. Her voice was the only reason she wanted to be friends with her in the first place... No, that was too mean.

Honestly, Quinn was curious.

"Yeah. Bye," she said lamely, heading toward the car.

Halfway to her mother's car, Rachel called out, "Q-Quinn?"

She turned around, thinking that maybe Rachel forgot something important.

Rachel swallowed a lump, biting her lip. She mumbled something.

"What did you say?"

It was almost like talking to a completely different person. While singing, Rachel was nearly assertive, her voice powerful enough to take Quinn's own confidence away. Without a mic or favorite hairbrush in hand, she was shy. Afraid to say what was really on her mind.

She looked at her shoes, then back to Quinn. "...Um, I was just... C-can I join your band now?"

Quinn blinked a few times, letting the message register. Finally.

"Okay."

Rachel's entire face lit up, beaming from ear to ear. She flew down the wooden steps and gave Quinn a quick and friendly hug. "Oh, thank you, Quinn!" She bounced around a little, excited at the thought. Her! Rachel Berry, in a real rock band!

Quinn could only nod, slowly gravitating toward the car. "Yeah. I'll see you later, then."

"O-okay!" Still bouncing, Rachel clapped her hands happily. She more excited for school than she usually was now. "Bye, Quinn!" She retreated, going inside.

That wasn't the reaction Quinn had been expecting- Not Rachel's, but her own. Even after waiting and wanting Rachel in the band for such a while, why wasn't she happy about it?

Things were starting to get confusing for her.